Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology Program

Program Overview

The Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology (CGEP) Program's mission is to understand host response and carcinogenesis (risk, early lesions, progression and prognosis) on a genetic and environmental basis. Almost every project involves the development, validation and/or application of biomarkers, and a major focus is on gene-environment interactions.

A person's acquired and inherited cancer predispositions, including behavior, are central to each program members' activities. Acquired predispositions are measured as the cumulative effects of carcinogen exposure that causes DNA damage and induction of enzymes that will then have downstream effects and other cellular responses. The inherited genetic traits of interest might have a high or low penetrance. High penetrance is typically caused by a variant in a tumor suppressor gene that substantially affects its function coupled with an inadequate redundant biological mechanism that would otherwise minimize the effects of the mutation. Low penetrant genetic traits have a more subtle effect on gene function, and the effects on cancer risk in the absence of considerable environmental exposures are usually difficult to measure in epidemiological studies.

Critical to the understanding of cancer risk and prognosis is that research efforts must involve a multidisciplinary group of investigators, where diverse skills are brought together in a creative and interactive way, allowing for results that are greater than simply the sum of the parts. For this reason, the program specifically includes investigators with interests in epidemiology, statistics, tumor biology (human and animal), chemistry, immunogenetics, molecular genetics and clinical oncology.

Our specific aims are:
Aim 1. To foster an understanding at the basic science level for the mechanisms and pathways of carcinogenesis through laboratory studies.

Aim 2. To foster an understanding of the pathogenesis of cancer and cancer etiology through the development of biomarkers and molecular epidemiology methods.

Aim 3. To determine genetic risk factors, phenotypic markers, genotype–phenotype relationships and gene–environment interactions for persons at risk for cancer and cancer progression.

Aim 4. To develop biostatistical methodologies and resources, including bioinformatics, to facilitate the management and analysis of clinical, molecular, and epidemiologic data, targeted to Aims 1-3 and in support of the LCCC.